Monday, March 9, 2009

Our biggest creditor once again tells us what not to do....

... or at least that's the conclusion you might draw after this warning from the wizened old men in Bejing has received international coverage without a single statement in response from our State Department:

BEIJING, March 7 (Reuters) - China's foreign minister, speaking ahead of two sensitive anniversaries next week, warned other countries on Saturday not to let the Dalai Lama use their territory to try to sever Tibet from Chinese control.

Beijing abruptly cancelled a China-EU summit last year, angry over French President Nicolas Sarkozy's meeting with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader whom Beijing condemns as a separatist.

The Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet in March 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, says he only wants greater autonomy for the remote region in China's far west rather than outright independence.

"In developing relations with China, other countries should not allow the Dalai Lama to visit their countries and should not allow their territories to be used for the Dalai Lama to engage in separatist activities for Tibet's independence," Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said.

"I think this is an integral part of the norms governing international relations," he told a news conference on the sidelines of the annual meeting of parliament.

I am deeply concerned about the violent clashes that have erupted in Lhasa, Tibet. Based on the limited information available, there is an urgent need for all parties, and in particular the Chinese security forces, to exercise restraint, to demonstrate respect for human rights and to protect civilians from danger. I call on the Chinese government to prevent further escalation of this conflict and to urgently pursue resolution through peaceful means.

Oops, sorry, never mind.

That statement was made by Senator Clinton, not Secretary Clinton, in March 2008, not 2009.

I will repeat my observation: China is now the only lender capable of helping us keep our economy afloat (which is what Paul Krugman and Robert Reich have been saying for months), and you do not get to criticize your largest creditor.